Khasab cruise ship shore excursion — private dhow, on-time return
Built for cruise-ship passengers: private dhow cruise into Khor Sham, Khasab Fort and souq walk, guaranteed return to the port on time. 6 hours.
What this package is
The cruise-ship shore excursion is the only package we have built around a single constraint: you have to be back at the port on time, and you cannot afford a surprise.
We track the ship’s arrival and departure times the morning of your call. We pick you up at the port 30 minutes after the gangway goes down. We take you to the dhow (we charter Al-Khaleej for your group, 25 guests max), cruise into Khor Sham, do one swim stop at Telegraph Island, return to the port by 13:00, and walk you through Khasab Fort and the old souq in the hour before you re-board.
The excursion is private — you are not sharing the dhow with anyone outside your group. We have done this for groups of 4 and groups of 24.
The cruise-ship excursion is the right pick for any cruise passenger with a 5–9 hour Khasab port call. It is the most-reviewed shore excursion on the cruise-ship forums, and we are the only operator in Khasab that promises the on-time return in writing.
Best for
Cruise ship passengers, couples, families
What makes it different
We are the only operator in Khasab that puts the on-time return in writing. If the ship sails without you because we were late, we refund the excursion. We have not had to do this once in 12 years.
Day-by-day itinerary
Cruise Day
- 08:00 – Port pickup (30 minutes after gangway)
- 08:15 – Walk to the dhow at Khasab Port (5 minutes from the terminal)
- 08:30 – Board dhow Al-Khaleej, safety briefing
- 09:00–11:30 – Private dhow cruise in Khor Sham, swim stop at Telegraph Island
- 12:00 – Return to Khasab Port
- 12:00–13:00 – Light lunch on the dhow or at a harbour restaurant (we pay for it on groups of 6+)
- 13:00–14:00 – Walk to Khasab Fort and the old souq (5 minutes from the port)
- 14:00 – Walk back to the port terminal
- 14:30 – Back on the ship, with 60–90 minutes to spare before sailing
Included
- Port pickup 30 minutes after gangway
- Private dhow charter (Al-Khaleej, 18 m, 25 guests max)
- One swim-and-snorkel stop at Telegraph Island
- Snorkel gear and life jackets
- Refreshments on board (water, soft drinks, fresh fruit, karak chai)
- Khasab Fort and old souq walk in the final hour
- Guaranteed return to the port 30 minutes before sailing
Not included
- Oman visa (most cruise passengers get a multi-entry Oman visa at the port; check with your cruise line)
- Lunch (we return to the harbour in time for lunch on the ship)
- Gratuity for the dhow crew
- Personal items and souvenirs
Who this package is for
Any cruise passenger with a 5–9 hour Khasab port call. Couples, families, and small groups. Not the right pick if you want a long day (this is a 6-hour excursion, designed around a tight ship schedule).
Local tip
Wear the swimwear under your clothes. We change on the dhow; there is no time to go back to the ship for a costume change.
Frequently asked questions
What if the ship is late arriving?
We adjust the pickup time. The excursion is built around the ship’s actual arrival, not the schedule.
Do I need a visa?
Most cruise lines include a multi-entry Oman visa in the cruise package. Check with your cruise line. If you need a visa on arrival, it is 50 AED at the port.
Can the group be bigger than 24?
Yes, we can split the group across two dhows. The per-person price goes down for groups of 20+.
At a glance
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Group size
- 2–24 people
- From
- 65 OMR / pp
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